A gauge-invariant and current-continuous microscopic ac quantum transport theory

Abstract

There had been consensus on what the accurate ac quantum transport theory was until some recent works challenged the conventional wisdom. Basing on the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism for time-dependent quantum transport, we derive an expression for the dynamic admittance that satisfies gauge invariance and current continuity, and clarify the key concept in the field. The validity of our now formalism is verified by first-principles calculation of the transient current through a carbon-nanotube-based device under the time-dependent bias voltage. Moreover, the previously well-accepted expression for dynamic admittance is recovered only when the device is a perfect conductor at a specific potential.